North York Centennial Centre is an aluminum-coated 1960's edifice located in a high-density residential area in North York. Its neighbours are mainly high-rise apartment buildings, and it is also located relatively near to a city park.

Inside the building, there is a small main lobby which leads into the main arena bowl. The arena only has seats on one side of it. There are 15 rows along the one side of the building, separated by a main concourse halfway up, but the other three sides of the arena only have standing room. There is also a second level of standing room around the building which affords a decent view, and a press box high above the ice on the side without the seats. The arena is decorated by 1960's pop art, and even without the "Centennial" name, it is easy to guess its age based upon its construction and decoration.

In the OHL, North York Centennial Arena was only ever a stopgap solution, used by the Marlies when Maple Leaf Gardens was booked solid. It is not an OHL-calibre building by any stretch, but it is still an interesting footnote to the league's history.

How To Get There

From the 401, get off at Allen Road and follow it north. It will eventually turn into Dufferin St. Eventually, you will make a right on Finch Ave. The arena will be on your left.

From the 407, get off at Dufferin St. and follow it south to Finch Ave. Turn left. The arena will be on your left.

Inside North York Centennial Centre

What's it Used For Today?

North York Centennial Centre was renamed in 2001 to the Herb Carnegie Centennial Centre, after the black hockey pioneer. The building is today used for community hockey and is also home to the North York Rangers of the Provincial Junior A league. The Centennial Centre also still has some connections with the OHL, as it has hosted the OHL Entry Draft several times in the past and has also been home recently to the OHL Cup tournament.

I don't know how often the North York Centennial Centre was used by the Marlboros. I discovered its OHL pedigree while doing unrelated research in the London Free Press - the Knights-Marlboros playoff series in 1969-70 was played at the building. Beyond that, I really have no idea. Maple Leaf Gardens was obviously a busy building in its prime, and it would appear that the North York Centennial Centre was an emergency backup building when the Gardens was being used by the Leafs, concerts, the WHA's Toronto Toros, etc. After the Markham Centennial Centre opened in 1974, it appears to have stolen a lot of North York's thunder, and I can find no further OHL use after that date.

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